Immunoglobulin fusion proteins

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are fusion proteins comprising a biologically active molecule and an immunoglobulin (Ig) Fc domain which is linked to the biologically active molecule. The Fc domain is a hybrid human Fc domain of (i) IgG1, IgG2 or IgG4 or (ii) IgG4 and IgD. The hybrid Fc is useful as a carrier of biologically active molecules.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/950,500 filed Nov. 19, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/130,002 filed May 30, 2008 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,867,491), which claims benefit from U.S. provisional application 60/940,753 filed on May 30, 2007, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hybrid human Fc and an immunoglobulin fusion protein in which the hybrid human Fc is joined to a biologically active molecule. In particular, it relates to a hybrid human Fc, which is derived from combinations of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses or combinations of human IgD and IgG, and a fusion protein in which such an Fc is coupled to a biologically active molecule via a covalent bond.

RELEVANT ART

Biologically active molecules may be of great interest therapeutically. However, they may have disadvantages as a therapeutic agent because their in vivo stability is low. Their circulating half-life or serum half-life is short because they are digested by various enzymes in living body. Therefore, it has been desired to improve circulating half-life of biologically active molecules.

It has been known that increasing the size of a protein can increase its half-life by preventing removal of the protein by kidney (Knauf et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1988. 263:15064-15070). For example, it was reported to increase protein stability by coupling an active protein to human albumin (Kinstler et al., Pharm. Res. 1995. 12: 1883-1888). However, since the coupling of an active protein to human albumin only slightly increases its residence time, it was not an effective method to develop an effective pharmaceutical formulation containing the active protein which is coupled to human albumin.

The other reported method is to modulate glycosylation of a protein. The additional glycosyltion at the protein and the introduction of sialic acids to the proteins lead to the prevention of degradation of the proteins in liver. But, the increase in glycosylation of the proteins also leads to a decrease of bioactivity of the proteins.

To stabilize proteins and prevent clearance by kidney, proteins have been conjugated to polyethylene glycol (PEG). The covalent conjugation to PEG has been widely used to deliver a drug of a prolonged half-life (Delgado et al., 1992. 9: 249-304). However, it was reported that PEG conjugation to cytokines or hormones results in a reduced receptor binding affinity due to steric hindrance caused by the conjugation.

Recently, fusion proteins manufactured using an immunoglobulin (Ig) has been researched and developed. Ig is a major component of blood. Human Ig (hIg) includes various classes such as IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE (Roitt et al., “Immunology” 1989, Gower Medical Publishing, London, U. K.; New York, N.Y.). Human IgGs can be further classified into various subtypes known as human IgG1 (hIgG1), human IgG2 (hIgG2), human IgG3 (hIgG3), and human IgG4 (hIgG4).

Immunoglobulins are comprised of four polypeptide chains, two heavy chains and two light chains, which are associated via disulfide bonds to form tetramers. Each chain is composed of a variable region and a constant region. The constant region of the heavy chain is further divided into three or four regions (CH1, CH2, CH3, and CH4), depending on the isotypes. The Fc portion of the heavy chain constant region, depending on the Ig isotype, includes hinge, CH2, CH3, and/or CH4 domains.

Regarding serum half-life, IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 have long half-lives of 21 days, while other immunoglobulins have relatively short half lives with less than a week. The chimeric proteins fused to Fc portion of IgG shows increased stability and increased serum half-life (Capon et al., Nature 1989. 337: 525-531). The biologically active proteins have been fused at the N-terminus of the CH1 region, the N-terminus of Fc region, or at the C-terminus of CH3 region of IgGs.

At the beginning period, IgG fusion proteins have been created with the extracellular domains of cell surface receptors such as CD4 (Capon et al., Nature 1989. 337: 525-531), TNFR (Mohler et al., J. Immunology 1993. 151: 1548-1561), CTLA4 (Linsley et al., J. Exp. Med. 1991. 173: 721-730), CD86 (Morton et al., J. Immunology 1996. 156: 1047-1054). Also, there are several cytokines and growth hormones which have been fused to IgG domains. However, unlike the fusion with the extracellular domains of cell surface receptors, the fusion with soluble proteins to IgGs leads to reduced biological activities, compared to the non-fused cytokine or growth factors. The chimeric proteins exist as dimers, which lead to the steric hindrance from the interacting with their target molecules like receptors, due to the presence of two active proteins in close proximity to one another. Therefore, this problem should be overcome to make an efficient fusion protein.

The other limitation of the Fc fusion technology is the presence of undesirable immune responses. The Fc domain of the immunoglobulin has also effector functions such as antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). This effector functions are generally achieved via interaction between the Fc region of the Ig and FcRs on effector cells or via complement binding. Therefore, the blocking of effector functions of Fc should be performed to reduce the undesirable reactions such as cell killing, cytokine release, or inflammation.

In summary, there are needs for improved Fc fusion proteins with minimal loss of biological activity and with less risk of undesired immune responses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hybrid Fc, which is derived from combinations of human IgG subclasses or combinations of human IgD and IgG. The hybrid Fc is effective, when joined to a biologically active molecule, to increase serum half-life of the biologically active molecule as well as increase expression level of the polypeptide when a nucleotide coding for the Fc-polypeptide fusion protein is expressed.

The present invention also provides a hybrid Fc fusion polypeptide in which the hybrid Fc is joined to a biologically active molecule. The fusion protein sometimes is referred to as ‘biologically active-molecule-Fc fusion protein” or simply “fusion protein.” The fusion protein may have a linker between the Fc and the biologically active molecule. The Fc may be coupled at its N-terminal to a C-terminal of the biologically active molecule.

The fusion protein may be produced by fabricating a nucleotide construct coding for and being capable of expressing the fusion protein; expressing it in a host cell; and harvest the fusion protein. Alternatively, the fusion protein may be produced by expressing a nucleotide coding for the Fc and coupling it to a biologically active molecule in a conventional manner.

The polypeptide according to one embodiment of the present invention may be represented by the following formula:

N′—(Z1)_(p)-Y—Z2-Z3-Z4-C′

wherein N′ is the N-terminus and C′ is the C-terminus of the polypeptide;

Z1 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least a C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO:11 or at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 90-98 of SEQ ID NO:14;

Y indicates an amino acid sequence including at least a C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 99 to 113 of SEQ ID NO:11 or at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO:14;

Z2 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least an N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 111 to 147 of SEQ ID NO:12 or at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 199 of SEQ ID NO:14;

Z3 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least a C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 118-223 of SEQ ID NO:11, 114-219 of SEQ ID NO:12, 165-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 115 to 220 of SEQ ID NO:13;

Z4 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least an N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 224-330 of SEQ ID NO:11, 220-326 of SEQ ID NO:12, 271-377 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 221-327 of SEQ ID NO:13; and

p is an integer of 0 or 1,

wherein the total number of the amino acid residues for Z2 and Z3 is between 80 and 140, both inclusive.

Z1 can be an amino acid sequence including 5 to 9 consecutive amino acid residues from the C-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 90-98 of SEQ ID NO: 11, or 5-9 consecutive amino acid residues from the C-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 90-98 of SEQ ID NO: 14. In some embodiments, Z1 can be 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 C-terminal amino acid residues of an IgG1 CH1 domain (SEQ ID NO: 11) or IgD CH1 domain (SEQ ID NO: 14).

In another embodiment, Z1 is an amino acid sequence including amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11 or amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14. Z1 may be an amino acid sequence consisting of 5 to 9 amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11 or amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14. Z1 also may be an amino acid sequence consisting of amino acid residues 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11 or amino acid residues 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14.

Y can be an amino acid sequence including 5 or more, or 10 or more consecutive amino acid residues from the C-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 99 to 113 of SEQ ID NO: 11 or 5 or more, or 10 or more consecutive amino acid residues from the C-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14. In certain embodiments, Y can be an amino acid sequence including amino acid residues at positions 99 to 113 of SEQ ID NO: 11, amino acid residues at positions 158 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 153 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 143 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 133 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, or amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14.

Z2 can be an amino acid sequence including 4 to 37, or 6-30 consecutive amino acid residues from the N-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 111 to 147 of SEQ ID NO: 12 (hIgG2) or 4 to 37, or 6-30 consecutive amino acid residues from the N-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 199 of SEQ ID NO: 14 (hIgD). In certain embodiments, Z2 can be 6 N-terminal amino aid residues of a human IgG2 CH2 domain or 8 N-terminal amino acid residues of a human IgD CH2 domain.

The total number of amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 can be between 80 and 140. In an embodiment, the total number of amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 is between 90 and 120, both inclusive. In another embodiment, the total number of amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 is between 105 and 115, both inclusive. In one embodiment, the total number of amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 is 108. In a still embodiment, the total number of amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 is 109.

Z4 can be an amino acid sequence including 90 or more, or 100 or more consecutive amino acid residues at positions 224-330 of SEQ ID NO:11 (hIgG1), 220-326 of SEQ ID NO:12 (hIgG2), 271-377 of SEQ ID NO: 24 (hIgG3), or 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO: 13 (hIgG4). Z4 can be an amino acid sequence of the amino acid residues at positions 224-330 of SEQ ID NO:11, 220-326 of SEQ ID NO:12, 271-377 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO: 13.

According to an embodiment, Z3-Z4 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (i) a continuous amino acid sequence comprised of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 118 to 223 of SEQ ID NO:11 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 224 to 330 of SEQ ID NO:11, (ii) a continuous amino acid sequence comprised of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 114 to 219 of SEQ ID NO:12 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 220 to 326 of SEQ ID NO:12, (iii) a continuous amino acid sequence comprised of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 165 to 270 of SEQ ID NO: 24 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 271 to 377 of SEQ ID NO: 24, and (iv) a continuous amino acid sequence of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 115 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO:13.

The total number of amino acid residues of the polypeptide according to one embodiment of the present invention is from 154 to 288.

In one embodiment, Y can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 99-113 of SEQ ID NO: 11, p can be 1 or 0, Z2 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 111-147 of SEQ ID NO: 12, and Z3 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 118-223 of SEQ ID NO:11, 114-219 of SEQ ID NO:12, 165-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 115 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13. In this embodiment, when p is 1, Z1 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11.

In further embodiments, Z3 can be 73 to 106 consecutive amino acid residues at positions 118-223 of SEQ ID NO:11, 114-219 of SEQ ID NO:12, 165-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 115-220 of SEQ ID NO: 13, and the total number of the amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 can be 110. Z2 can be an amino acid sequence of the amino acid residues at positions 111-116 of SEQ ID NO: 12, and Z3 can be an amino acid sequence of the amino acid residues at positions 120-223 of SEQ ID NO:11, 116-219 of SEQ ID NO:12, 167-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 118 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13.

In another embodiment, Y can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, p can be 1 or 0 (zero), Z2 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 199 of SEQ ID NO: 14, and Z3 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 121 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13. In this embodiment, when p is 1, Z1 can be an amino acid sequence including the amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14.

In further embodiments, Y can be 20 consecutive amino acid residues or more, 30 consecutive amino acid residues or more, 40 consecutive amino acid residues or more, 50 consecutive amino acid residues or more, or 60 consecutive amino acid residues or more of the C-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 99-162 of SEQ ID NO: 14. Z2 can be the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 170 of SEQ ID NO: 14, Z3 can comprise 71 to 100 consecutive amino acid residues of the C-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 124-223 of SEQ ID NO:11, 120-219 of SEQ ID NO:12, 171-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 121-220 of SEQ ID NO: 13. The total number of the amino acid residues for Z2 and Z3 can be 108.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide may be encoded by a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 26, and SEQ ID NO:27. The polypeptide is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 28, and SEQ ID NO: 29.

In an embodiment, the polypeptide is fused at its N-terminus with a biologically active molecule which shows an increased circulating half-life compared to the circulating half-life of the native form of said biologically active molecule. The biologically active molecule may be a polypeptide, protein, or a peptide. The biologically active molecule may be a polypeptide, peptide or a protein drug. The biologically active molecule may be a soluble protein such as, but not limited to, a hormone, cytokine, growth factor, a co-stimulatory molecule, hormone receptor, cytokine receptor, growth factor receptor, or short peptide. The biologically active molecule may be EPO or its variants/fragments, p40 or its variants/fragments (e.g., p40 variant which contains Asn303Gln substitution), G-CSF or its variants/fragments, TNF receptor, GM-CSF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-10 receptor, TGF-beta, TGF-beta receptor, IL-17, IL-17 receptor, Factor VII, CXCL-11, FSH, human growth hormone, bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1), CTLA4, PD-1, GLP-1, betacellulin, OPG, RNAK, interferon-alpha, interferon-beta or their variants/fragments. The biologically active molecule may be a secreted protein, which may be in a mature form.

In one embodiment, there is provided a method of producing the polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) introducing a DNA molecule coding for the polypeptide into a mammalian host cell, (ii) growing the cell under conditions where the polypeptide can be expressed in its growth medium; and (iii) harvesting the expressed polypeptide. The mammalian host cell may be a CHO, COS or BHK cells.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method of (i) reducing the symptoms of, preventing or treating an autoimmune disease, (ii) inhibiting rejection of a graft, or (iii) treating or preventing endotoxin-induced shock, including administering a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide described above, wherein the polypeptide is fused to a biologically active molecule.

In one embodiment, there is provided an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes the polypeptide according to embodiments of the present invention. The polypeptide may have an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 28, and SEQ ID NO: 29. The nucleic acid molecule may have a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 26, or SEQ ID NO: 27. The nucleic acid molecule may further include a signal sequence or leader sequence.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there are provided an expression vector including the nucleic acid molecule and a host cell containing the vector. Examples of the expression vector may include, be not limited to, pAD11 EPO-hFc-1, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-1, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-1, pAD11 EPO-hFc-6, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-6, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-6, pAD11 EPO-hFc-5, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-5, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-5 and pAD11 TNFR-hFc-5.

In one embodiment, there is provided a method of delivering a biologically active molecule to a mammal, including the step of administering the nucleic acid molecule to the mammal in need thereof.

In another embodiment, a polypeptide includes an Fc domain which consists of a hinge region, a CH2 domain and a CH3 domain in an N-terminal to C-terminal direction, wherein said hinge region includes at least a portion of amino acid residues of a human IgD hinge region or human IgG1 hinge region; said CH2 domain includes at least a portion of amino acid residues of a human IgG4 CH2 domain, wherein 4-37 consecutive amino acid residues at the N-terminus of the human IgG4 CH2 domain are replaced with at least a portion of amino acid residues of the N-terminal region of a human IgG2 CH2 domain or the N-terminal region of a human IgD CH2 domain, and said CH3 domain includes at least a portion of amino acid residues of a human IgG4 CH3 domain.

The hinge region may include at least a portion of amino acid residues of the human IgG1 hinge region, said CH2 domain includes at least a portion of amino acid residues of the human IgG4 CH2 domain, wherein the 4-37 amino acid residues at the N-terminus of the human IgG4 CH2 domain are replaced with at least a portion of the amino acid residues of the N-terminal region of the human IgG2 CH2 domain.

The hinge region may include at least a portion of amino acid residues of the human IgD hinge region, said CH2 domain includes at least a portion of amino acid residues of the human IgG4 CH2 domain, wherein 4-37 amino acid residues at the N-terminus of the human IgG4 CH2 domain are replaced with at least a portion of the amino acid residues of the N-terminal region of the human IgD CH2 domain.

The polypeptide may further include a CH1 domain, wherein said CH1 domain includes at least a portion of amino acid residues of the human IgG1 CH1 domain, and wherein said CH1 domain is coupled to the N-terminus of said hinge region. The polypeptide may further include a CH1 domain, wherein said CH1 domain includes at least a portion of amino acid residues of the human IgD CH1 domain, and wherein said CH1 domain is coupled to the N-terminus of said hinge region. The polypeptide may further include a second polypeptide coupled to the N-terminus of said hinge region, wherein the second polypeptide is a biologically active non-immunoglobulin polypeptide. The polypeptide may further include a biologically active molecule coupled to the N-terminus of said CH1 domain or to the C-terminus of said CH4 domain through a linker, wherein said biologically active molecule is not an immunoglobulin polypeptide. The polypeptide and the biologically active molecule may be coupled to each other via a linker. The linker molecule is an albumin linker or a synthetic linker. The albumin linker comprises amino acid sequence 321 to 323, 318 to 325, 316 to 328, 313 to 330, 311 to 333, or 306 to 338 of SEQ ID NO: 25. The synthetic linker may be a peptide of 10 to 20 amino acid residues composed of Gly and Ser residues. In one embodiment, such Gly-Ser linker is GGGGSGGGGSGGGSG (SEQ ID NO: 32).

The present invention also encompasses an antibody molecule comprising a recombinant Fc region, the recombinant Fc region is described as above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the schematic diagram of hybrid Fcs (hFcs) that can be used as a carrier protein for biologically active molecules designated as “X”.

FIG. 2 shows the schematic representations of hFcs following detailed description about amino acid positions derived from IgG1 (SEQ ID NO: 11), IgG2 (SEQ ID: 12), IgG4 (SEQ ID: 13) and IgD (SEQ ID: 14). The same rule applies to the designation of amino acid positions in the polypeptide throughout the application, unless otherwise indicated.

FIG. 3 shows the schematic representation of hFcs which each are conjugated to biologically active molecules designated as “X” at the C-terminal through an albumin linker peptide designated as “AL”.

FIG. 4 shows the schematic representations of hFcs conjugated with linkers following detailed description about amino acid positions of albumin linkers derived from human albumin (SEQ ID NO: 25).

FIG. 5 shows the results of hydrophobicity plot of hFc-6.

FIG. 6( a) shows the results of FcγRI binding activities of MabThera® (Rituximab), hIgG1, Enbrel® (etanercept), EPO-hFc-5, G-CSF-hFc-5, p40N303Q-hFc-5 using specific ELISA assay; FIG. 6( b) shows the results of C1q binding activities of MabThera® (Rituximab), hIgG1, Enbrel® (etanercept), EPO-hFc-5, G-CSF-hFc-5, p40N303Q-hFc-5 using specific ELISA assay.

FIG. 7( a) shows the results of bioactivities of EPO-IgG1 Fc, EPO-hFc-1, EPO-hFc-5, EPO-hFc-6 and Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa), compared to that of EPO in human F36E cell line; FIG. 7( b) shows the results of in vitro bioactivities of Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) and G-CSF-hFc-5 in mouse hematopoietic cell line (NFS-60); FIG. 7( c) shows the results of in vitro bioactivities of p40 and p40N303Q-hFc-5 in human PBMCs; FIG. 7( d) shows the results of in vitro bioactivities of Enbrel® (etanercept) and TNFR-hFc-5 in Murine L929 cells; and FIG. 7( e) shows the results of in vitro bioactivites of thFc-1-AL(0)-IFN-beta and thFc-1-AL(3)-IFN-beta in human WISH cells.

FIG. 8( a) shows the results of in vivo half life of Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa), EPO-hFc-1, or EPO-hFc-5 administered to cynomolgus monkeys via SC route (left panel) and IV route (right panel); FIG. 8( b) shows the results of pharmacokinetics of LEUCOSTIM® (filgrastim) and G-CSF-hFc-1 administered to Sprague Dawley rats via SC route (left panel) and IV route (right panel); FIG. 8( c) shows the results of pharmacokinetics of p40N303Q-hFc-5 and Enbrel® (etanercept) administered to cynomolgus monkeys via SC route: FIG. 8( d) shows the results of pharmacokinetics of TNFR-hFc-5 and Enbrel® (etanercept) administered to Sprague Dawley rats via SC route.

FIG. 9( a) shows the results of in vivo bioactivities of Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) and EPO-hFc-5 administered to cynomolgus monkeys via SC route (upper panel) and IV route (lower panel) and FIG. 9( b) shows the results of in vivo bioactivities of LEUCOSTIM® (filgrastim) and G-CSF-hFc-1 administered to Sprague Dawley rats via SC route (upper panel) and IV route (lower panel).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hybrid human immunoglobulin Fc fragment, which includes a hinge region, a CH2 domain and a CH3 domain in an N-terminal to C-terminal direction, wherein the hinge region is an at least partial amino acid sequence of a human IgD hinge region or a human IgG1 hinge region; and the CH2 domain is of human IgG4 CH2 domain, a portion of which, at its N-terminal region, is replaced by 4-37 amino acid residues of an N-terminal region of a human IgG2 CH2 or human IgD CH2 domain. Such hybrid Fc fragment, when joined to a biologically active molecule, such as a biologically active molecule, to produce a Fc fusion protein, minimizes non-specific immunoreactions of the Fc fusion protein, prolongs the serum half-life of the biologically active molecule, and optimizes the activity of the biologically active molecule.

In the Fc fusion protein according to one embodiment of the present invention, the combination of the N-terminal of IgD CH2 domain with the remaining portion of the IgG4 CH2 domain was designed that the region of the resulting fusion protein where two different Ig subunits are recombined is hydrophobic. The hydrophobic region of the resulting fused protein will be located inside a folded protein, minimizing undesired non-specific immune reaction.

The term “Fc fragment” or “Fc,” as used herein, refers to a protein that contains the heavy-chain constant region 1 (CH1), the heavy-chain constant region 2 (CH2) and the heavy-chain constant region 3 (CH3) of an immunoglobulin, and not the variable regions of the heavy and light chains, and the light-chain constant region 1 (CL1) of the immunoglobulin. It may further include the hinge region at the heavy-chain constant region. Hybrid Fc or hybrid Fc fragment is sometimes referred to herein as “hFc.”

In addition, the Fc fragment of the present invention may be in the form of having native sugar chains, increased sugar chains compared to a native form or decreased sugar chains compared to the native form, or may be in a deglycosylated form. The increase, decrease or removal of the immunoglobulin Fc sugar chains may be achieved by methods common in the art, such as a chemical method, an enzymatic method and a genetic engineering method using a microorganism. The removal of sugar chains from an Fc fragment results in a sharp decrease in binding affinity to the C1q part of the first complement component C1 and a decrease or loss in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), thereby not inducing unnecessary immune responses in vivo. In this regard, an immunoglobulin Fc fragment in a deglycosylated or aglycosylated form may be, in some cases, more suitable to the object of the present invention as a drug carrier.

As used herein, the term “deglycosylation” refers to that sugar moieties are enzymatically removed from an Fc fragment, and the term “aglycosylation” means that an Fc fragment is produced in an unglycosylated form by a prokaryote, preferably E. coli.

The term “hybrid”, as used herein, means that sequences encoding two or more immunoglobulin Fc fragments of different origin are present in a single-chain immunoglobulin Fc fragment.

In an embodiment, the hybrid human Fc includes a hinge region, a CH2 domain and a CH3 domain in an N-terminal to C-terminal direction, wherein the hinge region is an at least partial amino acid sequence of a human IgD hinge region or a human IgG1 hinge region; and the CH2 domain is of human IgG4 CH2 domain, a portion of which, at its N-terminal region, is replaced by 4-37 amino acid residues of an N-terminal region of a human IgG2 CH2 or human IgD CH2 domain. The hybrid human Fc can be joined at its N-terminus to a C-terminus of a biologically active molecule via a covalent bond.

In another embodiment, the biologically active molecule-hybrid Fc fusion polypeptide may be represented by the following formula:

N′—X—(Z1)_(p)-Y—Z2-Z3-Z4-C′, or

N′—(Z1)_(p)-Y—Z2-Z3-Z4-(linker)_(q)-X—C′

wherein N′ is the N-terminus and C′ is the C-terminus of the polypeptide; Z1 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least a C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO:11 or at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 90-98 of SEQ ID NO:14; Y indicates an amino acid sequence including at least a C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 99 to 113 of SEQ ID NO:11 or at least a portion of the amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO:14; Z2 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least an N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 111 to 147 of SEQ ID NO:12 or at least an N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 199 of SEQ ID NO:14; Z3 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least a C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 118-223 of SEQ ID NO:11, 114-219 of SEQ ID NO:12, 165-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 115 to 220 of SEQ ID NO:13; Z4 indicates an amino acid sequence including at least an N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 221-327 of SEQ ID NO:13; and p and q are each an integer of 0 or 1, wherein the total number of the amino acid residues for Z2 and Z3 is between 80 and 140, both inclusive, linker is a linker molecule, and X is a biologically active molecule of interest.

In one embodiment, Z3-Z4 is an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (i) a continuous amino acid sequence comprised of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 118 to 223 of SEQ ID NO:11 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 224 to 330 of SEQ ID NO:11, (ii) a continuous amino acid sequence comprised of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 114 to 219 of SEQ ID NO:12 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 220 to 326 of SEQ ID NO:12, (iii) a continuous amino acid sequence comprised of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 165 to 270 of SEQ ID NO: 24 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 271 to 377 of SEQ ID NO: 24, and (iv) a continuous amino acid sequence of the C-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 115 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13 and the N-terminal portion of the amino acid residues at positions 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO:13.

The total number of amino acid residues of the polypeptide according to one embodiment of the present invention is from 154 to 288.

The polypeptides of the formula N′—X—(Z1)_(p)-Y—Z2-Z3-Z4-C′ and N′—(Z1)_(p)-Y—Z2-Z3-Z4-(linker)_(q)-X—C′ increases the circulating half-life of the biologically active molecule X compared to a circulating half-life of X alone, when administered to a subject.

The linker may be derived from human albumin (CAA00606; SEQ ID NO: 25). The linker may comprise amino acid sequence 321 to 323, 318 to 325, 316 to 328, 313 to 330, 311 to 333, or 306 to 338 of SEQ ID NO: 25. Alternatively, the linker may be a synthetic linker. The synthetic linker may be a peptide composed of a total 10-20 residues of Gly and Ser. In one embodiment, the Gly-Ser linker is GGGGSGGGGSGGGSG (SEQ ID NO: 32).

Z1 can comprise at least a portion of the CH1 domain of human IgG1 (SEQ ID NO:11) or IgD (SEQ ID NO:14). Z1 can comprise 5 to 9 or 7 to 9 consecutive amino acid residues of the C-terminal region of the IgG1 CH1 domain (positions 90-98 of SEQ ID NO: 11) or the C-terminal region of the IgD CH1 domain (positions 90-98 of SEQ ID NO: 14). In some embodiments, Z1 can be 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 C-terminal amino acid residues of the IgG1 CH1 domain or IgD CH1 domain.

In some embodiments, Z1 is an amino acid sequence including amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11 or amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14. Z1 may be an amino acid sequence consisting of 5 to 9 amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11 or amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14. Z1 also may be an amino acid sequence consisting of amino acid residues 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11 or amino acid residues 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14.

Y can comprise at least a portion of the hinge region of human IgG1 or IgD. Y can comprise 5 or more, or 10 or more consecutive amino acid residues of the C-terminal IgG1 hinge region (amino acid positions 99 to 113 of SEQ ID NO: 11) or IgD hinge region (amino acid positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14). In certain embodiments, Y can be an amino acid sequence including amino acid residues at positions 99 to 113 of SEQ ID NO: 11, amino acid residues at positions 158 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 153 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 143 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 133 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, or amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14.

Z2 can comprise 4 to 37, 6 to 30, 6 to 12, 6 to 8, 8 or 6 consecutive amino acid residues of the N-terminal region of the human IgG2 CH2 domain (the amino acid residues at positions 111 to 147 of SEQ ID NO: 12) or the N-terminal region of the IgD CH2 domain (the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 199 of SEQ ID NO: 14). In certain embodiments, Z2 can be 6 N-terminal amino aid residues of a human IgG2 CH2 domain (amino acid residues 111-116 of SEQ ID NO: 12) or 8 N-terminal amino acid residues of a human IgD CH2 domain (amino acid residues 163-170 of SEQ ID NO:14).

The total number of amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 can be between 90 and 120, both inclusive, or 105 and 115, both inclusive.

Z4 can be an amino acid sequence including 90 or more, or 100 or more consecutive amino acid residues of the IgG4 CH3 domain (amino acid residues at positions 224-330 of SEQ ID NO:11, 220-326 of SEQ ID NO:12, 271-377 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO: 13). Z4 can be of amino acid residues of more than 98% or 95% of the amino acid residues of the human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 CH3 domain. In one exemplary embodiment, Z4 is an amino acid sequence comprising the entire amino acid sequence of the human IgG CH3 domain. For example, Z4 is the amino acid sequence of the human IgG4 CH3 domain, corresponding to amino acid residues 341-447 of the human IgG4, as numbered according to the EU Index, Kabat (which correspond to amino acid residues at positions 221-327 of SEQ ID NO: 13).

In one embodiment, Y can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the C-terminal amino acid residues of the human IgG1 hinge region (amino acid residues 99-113 of SEQ ID NO: 11), p can be 1 or 0, Z2 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the N-terminal region of the human IgG2 CH2 (amino acid residues at positions 111-147 of SEQ ID NO: 12), and Z3 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the C-terminal region of any of the human IgG subclasses (amino acid residues at positions 118-223 of SEQ ID NO:11, 114-219 of SEQ ID NO:12, 165-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24, or 115 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13). In this embodiment, when p is 1, Z1 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the C-terminal region of the human IgG1 CH1 domain (amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 11). For example, Z1 can be the amino acid residues 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO:11.

In further embodiments, Z3 can be 73 to 106 consecutive amino acid residues of the C-terminal region of the human IgG4 CH2 domain (positions 115-220 of SEQ ID NO: 13), of the human IgG1 CH2 domain (positions 118-223 of SEQ ID NO:11), of the human IgG2 CH2 domain (positions 114-219 of SEQ ID NO:12), of the human IgG3 CH2 domain (positions 165-270 of SEQ ID NO: 24), and the total number of the amino acid residues of Z2 and Z3 can be 110. For example, Z2 can be an amino acid sequence of the amino acid residues at positions 111-116 of SEQ ID NO: 12, and Z3 can be an amino acid sequence of the amino acid residues at positions 117 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13.

In another embodiment, Y can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the C-terminal region of the human IgD hinge region (amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14), p can be 1 or 0 (zero), Z2 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the N-terminal region of the human IgD CH2 domain (amino acid residues at positions 163 to 199 of SEQ ID NO: 14), and Z3 can be an amino acid sequence including at least a portion of the C-terminal region of the human IgG4 CH2 domain (amino acid residues at positions 121 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13). For example, Y can be the amino acid residues at positions 158 to 162, 133 to 162, or 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO:14, Z2 can be the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 170 of SEQ ID NO:14, and Z3 can be amino acid residues at positions 121-220 of SEQ ID NO:13.

In this embodiment, when p is 1, Z1 can be an amino acid sequence including the C-terminal region of the human IgD CH1 domain (amino acid residues at positions 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 14). For example, Z1 can be amino acid residues 90 to 98 of SEQ ID NO:14.

In this embodiment, Y can be 20 consecutive amino acid residues or more, 30 consecutive amino acid residues or more, 40 consecutive amino acid residues or more, 50 consecutive amino acid residues or more, or 60 consecutive amino acid residues or more of the C-terminal side of the human IgD hinge region (amino acid residues at positions 99-162 of SEQ ID NO: 14). Z3 can comprise 71 to 100 consecutive amino acid residues of the C-terminal side of the amino acid residues at positions 121-220 of SEQ ID NO: 13. The total number of the amino acid residues for Z2 and Z3 can be 108.

Table 1 shows amino acid sequences of the fragments of human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgD useful in the construction of the hFcs according to the embodiments of the present invention.

TABLE 1 Sequence of the longest fragments within the Acceptable range acceptable range, in an N- Location Location in hFc of the Ig terminal to C-terminal in the the EU domain fragments direction SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID index* CH1 (Z1) 5-9 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgG1 CH1

11 90-98 207-215 5-9 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgD CH1

14 90-98 Not Available Hinge (Y) 5-15 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgG1 hinge region

11  99-113 216-230 5-64 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgD hinge region

14  99-162 Not Available CH2, N- terminal side (Z2) 4-37 N-terminal amino acid residues of IgG2 CH2

12 111-147 231-267 4-37 N-terminal amino acid residues of IgD CH2 domain

14 163-199 Not Available CH2, C- terminal side (Z3) + 71-106 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgG4 CH2 +

13 115-220 + 235-340 + CH3 (Z4) 80-107 N-terminal amino acid residues of IgG4 CH3 domain

221-327 341-447 70-106 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgG3 CH2 +

24 165-270 + 235-340 + 80-107 N-terminal amino acid residues of IgG3 CH3 domain

271-377 341-447 71-106 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgG2 CH2 +

12 114-219 + 234-340 + 80-107 N-terminal amino acid residues of IgG2 CH3 domain

220-326 341-447 71-106 C-terminal amino acid residues of IgG1 CH2 +

11 118-223 + 235-340 + 80-107 N-terminal amino acid residues of IgG1 CH3 domain

224-330 341-447 *EU index is described in “Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Edition, United States Department of Health and Human Services.” **The shaded region in each of the amino acid sequence indicates the shortest fragments of the acceptable amino acid residue ranges.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a hybrid Fc which is one of hFc-1, hFc-2, hFc-3, hFc-4, hFc-5, or hFc-6, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or thFc-1 or thFc-2 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Although FIGS. 1 and 3 depict double chain Fcs, the present invention encompasses single chain hybrid Fc molecules. Amino acid sequences of hFc-1 to hFc-6 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 18-23, respectively and amino acid sequences of thFc-1 and thFc-2 are shown in SEQ ID NO: 28 and SEQ ID NO: 29, respectively. The present invention also encompasses a polynucleotide molecule coding for the hybrid Fc. They include, but are not limited to, a polynucleotide sequence as shown as SEQ ID NO: 1 (hFc-1), SEQ ID NO: 2 (hFc-2), SEQ ID NO: 3 (hFc-3), SEQ ID NO: 4 (hFc-4), SEQ ID NO: 5 (hFc-5), SEQ ID NO: 6 (hFc-6), SEQ ID NO: 26 (thFc-1) and SEQ ID NO: 27 (thFc-2).

The amino acid sequences of human immunoglobulins are known in the art and they are deposited with a publicly accessible depository. For example, amino acid sequences of human IgG1 constant region, human IgG2 constant region, human IgG3 constant region, human IgG4 constant region, and human IgD constant region are available at CAA75032, CAC20455, CAC20456, AAH25985 and P01880, respectively. These sequences are reproduced as SEQ ID NO: 11, 12, 24, 13 and 14, respectively.

A biologically active molecule X may be a soluble protein. It may include, but is not limited to, a hormone, cytokine, growth factor, co-stimulatory molecule, hormone receptor, cytokine receptor, growth factor receptor, or short peptide. For example, X may be an EPO, p40, G-CSF, TNF receptor or variants/fragments thereof. X may be a GM-CSF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-10 receptor, TGF-beta, TGF-beta receptor, IL-17, IL-17 receptor, Factor VII, CXCL-11, FSH, human growth hormone, bone morphogenetic protein-1, CTLA4, PD-1, GLP-1, betacellulin, OPG, RNAK, interferon-alpha, interferon-beta or their variants/fragments. It also may include, but is not limited to, a Fab region of an antibody. The biologically active molecule also may be a secreted protein. In one embodiment, the biologically active molecule does not belong to the immunoglobulin family.

The term “variant” refers to a polynucleotide or nucleic acid differing from a reference nucleic acid or polypeptide, but retaining essential properties thereof. Generally, variants are overall closely similar, and, in many regions, identical to the reference nucleic acid or polypeptide. Also, the term “variant” refers to a biologically active portion of a biologically active molecule drug, and retaining at least one functional and/or therapeutic property thereof as described elsewhere herein or otherwise known in the art. Generally, variants are overall very similar, and, in many regions, identical to the amino acid sequence of the biologically active polypeptide of interest.

The present invention also provides proteins which comprise, or alternatively consist of, an amino acid sequence which is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100%, identical to, for example, the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides, as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 18-23 and 28-29. Fragments of these polypeptides are also provided. Further polypeptides encompassed by the invention are polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides which hybridize to the complement of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptides of the invention under stringent hybridization conditions (e.g., hybridization to filter bound DNA in 6× Sodium chloride/Sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45° C. followed by one or more washes in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at about 50-65° C.), under highly stringent conditions (e.g., hybridization to filter bound DNA in 6× sodium chloride/Sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45° C., followed by one or more washes in 0.1×SSC, 0.2% SDS at about 68° C.), or under other stringent hybridization conditions which are known to those of skill in the art (see, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., eds., 1989 Current protocol in Molecular Biology, Green publishing associates, Inc., and John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, at pages 6.3.1 6.3.6 and 2.10.3). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

By a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a query amino acid sequence, it is intended that the amino acid sequence of the subject polypeptide is identical to the query sequence except that the subject polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the query amino acid sequence. In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a query amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the subject sequence may be inserted, deleted, or substituted with another amino acid. These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino- or carboxy-terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

As a practical matter, whether any particular polypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for instance, the amino acid sequence of an albumin fusion protein of the invention or a fragment thereof, can be determined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferred method for determining the best overall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using the FASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237 245 (1990)). In a sequence alignment the query and subject sequences are either both nucleotide sequences or both amino acid sequences. The result of the global sequence alignment is expressed as percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDB amino acid alignment are: Matrix=PAM 0, k-tuple=2, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=20, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Window Size=sequence length, Gap Penalty=5, Gap Size Penalty=0.05, Window Size=500 or the length of the subject amino acid sequence, whichever is shorter.

The variant will usually have at least 75% (preferably at least about 80%, 90%, 95% or 99%) sequence identity with a length of normal HA or Therapeutic protein which is the same length as the variant. Homology or identity at the nucleotide or amino acid sequence level is determined by BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) analysis using the algorithm employed by the programs blastp, blastn, blastx, tblastn and tblastx (Karlin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87: 2264 2268 (1990) and Altschul, J. Mol. Evol. 36: 290 300 (1993), fully incorporated by reference) which are tailored for sequence similarity searching.

The polynucleotide variants of the invention may contain alterations in the coding regions, non-coding regions, or both. Especially preferred are polynucleotide variants containing alterations which produce silent substitutions, additions, or deletions, but do not alter the properties or activities of the encoded polypeptide. Nucleotide variants produced by silent substitutions due to the degeneracy of the genetic code are preferred. Moreover, polypeptide variants in which less than 50, less than 40, less than 30, less than 20, less than 10, or 5-50, 5-25, 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, added in any combination are also preferred. Polynucleotide variants can be produced for a variety of reasons, e.g., to optimize codon expression for a particular host (change codons in the human mRNA to those preferred by a bacterial host, such as, yeast or E. coli).

For the purpose of constructing various Fc fusion proteins such as EPO-Fc fusion construct, G-CSF-Fc fusion construct, or human p40-Fc fusion construct, amino acid sequences of the human EPO, human G-CSF, human p40, and human TNF receptor are available from NP 000790 (SEQ ID NO: 15), CAA27291 (SEQ ID NO: 16), AAG32620 (SEQ ID NO: 17), and NP 001057 (SEQ ID NO: 31), respectively. In one embodiment, a modified human p40 wherein amino acid residue Asn at position 303 is replaced with Gln is connected to the polypeptide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a whole antibody containing the engineered Fc region is provided. The term “antibody” as used herein includes whole antibodies and antibody fragments that include at least two of CH1, hinge region, CH2 or CH3. Whole monoclonal antibodies are preferred. The heavy chain variable region of the antibody is selected for its binding specificity and can be of any type, such as, for example, non-human, humanized or fully human. Where the heavy chain variable region of the antibody is non-human (such as, for example, murine) and is combined recombinantly with an engineered Fc region in accordance with this disclosure, the resulting recombinant antibody is referred to as a chimeric antibody. Where the heavy chain variable region of the antibody is humanized and is combined recombinantly with an engineered Fc region in accordance with this disclosure, the resulting recombinant antibody is referred to as a humanized antibody. Where the heavy chain variable region of the antibody is human and is combined recombinantly with an engineered Fc region in accordance with this disclosure, the resulting recombinant antibody is referred to as a fully human antibody. For example, the variable region of the heavy chain is humanized and includes human framework regions and non-human (in this case murine) complementary determining regions (CDRs). It should be understood that the framework regions can be derived from one source or more than one source and that the CDRs can be derived from one source or more than one source. Methods for humanization of antibodies are known to those skilled in the art and are known in the art.

The light chain of the antibody can be human, non-human or humanized. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the light chain is humanized and includes human framework regions, non-human (in this case murine) CDRs and a human constant region. It should be understood that the framework regions can be derived from one source or more than one source and that the CDRs can be derived from one source or more than one source.

The antibody containing the engineered Fc region is selected based on its ability to bind to a cell surface molecule or a soluble molecule that binds to a cell surface molecule. Thus, for example, the antibody can be selected based on its ability to bind cell surface molecules such as cytokine receptors (e.g., IL-2R, TNF-aR, IL-15R, etc.); adhesion molecules (e.g., E-selectin, P-selectin, L-selectin, VCAM, ICAM, etc.); cell differentiation or activation antigens (e.g., CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD25, CD40, etc.), and others. Alternatively, the antibody can be selected based on its ability to bind a soluble molecule that binds to cell surface molecules. Such soluble molecules include, but are not limited to, cytokines and chemokines (e.g., interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, etc.); growth factors (e.g., EGF, PGDF, GM-CSF, HGF, IGF, BMP-1, etc.); molecules inducing cell differentiation (e.g., EPO, TPO, SCF, PTN, etc.), and others.

In general, the construction of the antibodies disclosed herein is achieved by, using recognized manipulations utilized in genetic engineering technology. For example, techniques for isolating DNA, making and selecting vectors for expressing the DNA, purifying and analyzing nucleic acids, specific methods for making recombinant vector DNA, cleaving DNA with restriction enzymes, ligating DNA, introducing DNA including vector DNA into host cells by stable or transient means, culturing the host cells in selective or non-selective media to select and maintain cells that express DNA, are generally known in the field.

The monoclonal antibodies disclosed herein may be derived using the hybridoma method, which is known in the art, or other recombinant DNA methods well known in the art. In the hybridoma method, a mouse or other appropriate host animal is immunized with DNA, peptide or protein which elicits the production of antibodies by the lymphocytes.

Alternatively, lymphocytes may be immunized in vitro. The lymphocytes produced in response to the antigen are then are fused with myeloma cells using a suitable fusing agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell. The hybridoma cells are then seeded and grown in a suitable culture medium that preferably contains one or more substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused, parental myeloma cells. Preferred myeloma cells are those that fuse efficiently, support stable production of antibody by the selected antibody-producing cells, and are not sensitive to a medium such as HAT medium (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo., Catalog No. H-0262).

The antibodies containing the engineered Fc region can also be used as separately administered compositions given in conjunction with therapeutic agents. For diagnostic purposes, the antibodies may either be labeled or unlabeled.

Unlabeled antibodies can be used in combination with other labeled antibodies (second antibodies) that are reactive with the engineered antibody, such as antibodies specific for human immunoglobulin constant regions. Alternatively, the antibodies can be directly labeled. A wide variety of labels may be employed, such as radionuclides, fluors, enzymes, enzyme substrates, enzyme co-factors, enzyme inhibitors, ligands (particularly haptens), etc. Numerous types of immunoassays are available and are well known to those skilled in the art, it)

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of producing the fusion protein, which method comprises: (i) introducing a DNA molecule coding for the fusion protein into a mammalian host cell, (ii) growing the cell under conditions the fusion protein is expressed in its growth medium; and (iii) harvesting the produced fusion protein.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising the fusion protein or an antibody molecule or an antibody fragment described above. It also provides a method of treating or preventing certain symptoms by administering the pharmaceutical composition. For example, a method is provided, which (i) reduces the symptoms of/preventing/treating an autoimmune disease, (ii) inhibits rejection of a graft, (iii) treats/prevents endotoxin-induced shock, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the fusion protein of the hybrid Fc and a p40 protein or its variants/fragments.

The composition may comprises a pharmaceutical carrier. A pharmaceutical carrier can be any compatible, non-toxic substance suitable for delivery of the antibodies to the patient. Sterile water, alcohol, fats, waxes, and inert solids may be included in the carrier. Pharmaceutically accepted adjuvants (buffering agents, dispersing agent) may also be incorporated into the pharmaceutical composition.

The antibody compositions may be administered to a subject in a variety of ways. For example, the pharmaceutical compositions may be administered parenterally, e.g., subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously. These compositions may be sterilized by conventional, well known sterilization techniques. The compositions may contain pharmaceutical acceptable auxiliary substances as required to approximate physiological conditions such as pH adjusting and buffering agents, toxicity adjusting agents and the like, for example sodium acetate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium lactate, etc. The concentration of the fusion protein, antibody, or antibody fragment in these formulations can vary widely, e.g., from less than about 0.5%, usually at or at least about 1% to as much as 15 or 20% by weight and will be selected primarily based on fluid volumes, viscosities, etc., in accordance with the particular mode of administration selected.

The present invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes for the fusion protein, and an expression vector carrying the nucleic acid molecule. Such nucleic acid may be directly delivered to a subject which needs a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid. Alternatively, the polynucleotide is produced by expressing the nucleic acid in a medium and then administered to a subject.

The term “peptide,” “polypeptide” or “protein” refers to molecules of 2 to 40 amino acids, with molecules of 3 to 20 amino acids preferred and those of 6 to 15 amino acids most preferred. Exemplary peptides may be randomly generated by any of the methods cited above, carried in a peptide library (e.g., a phage display library), or derived by digestion of proteins.

The term “drug”, as used herein, refers to a substance displaying therapeutic activity when administered to humans or animals, and examples of the drug include, but are not limited to, polypeptides, compounds, extracts and nucleic acids. Preferred is a polypeptide drug.

The terms “physiologically active polypeptide,” “biologically active molecule,” “physiologically active protein,” “active polypeptide,” “polypeptide drug,” and “protein drug”, as used herein, are interchangeable in their meanings, and are featured in that they are in a physiologically active form exhibiting various in vivo physiological functions.

The polypeptide drug has a disadvantage of being unable to sustain physiological action for a long period of time due to its property of being easily denatured or degraded by proteolytic enzymes present in the body. However, when the polypeptide drug is joined (or coupled) to the immunoglobulin Fc fragments according to embodiments of the present invention to form a fusion protein, the drug has increased structural stability and serum half-life. Also, the polypeptide joined to the Fc fragment has a much smaller decrease in physiological activity than other known polypeptide drug formulations. Therefore, compared to the in vivo bioavailability of conventional polypeptide drugs, the fused polypeptide comprising the polypeptide drug and the Fc fragment, or a conjugate of the polypeptide drug and the Fc fragment according to the present invention is characterized by having markedly improved in vivo bioavailability. This is also clearly described through embodiments of the present invention. That is, when joined to the Fc fragment of the present invention, IFN-α, G-CSF, EPO, p40, TNF receptor, and other protein drugs displayed an increase in vivo bioavailability compared to their native forms or other conventional fused forms.

It is understood that the present invention exploits conventional recombinant DNA methodologies for generating the Fc fusion proteins, antibodies containing engineered Fc region according to the present invention and antibody fragments useful in the practice of the invention. The Fc fusion constructs preferably are generated at the DNA level, and the resulting DNAs integrated into expression vectors, and expressed to produce the fusion proteins, antibody or antibody fragment of the invention.

As used herein, the term “vector” is understood to mean any nucleic acid including a nucleotide sequence competent to be incorporated into a host cell and to be recombined with and integrated into the host cell genome, or to replicate autonomously as an episome. Such vectors include linear nucleic acids, plasmids, phagemids, cosmids, RNA vectors, viral vectors and the like. Non-limiting examples of a viral vector include a retrovirus, an adenovirus and an adeno-associated virus. As used herein, the term “gene expression” or “expression” of a target protein, is understood to mean the transcription of a DNA sequence, translation of the mRNA transcript, and secretion of an Fc fusion protein product or antibody or antibody fragment.

A useful expression vector is RcCMV (Invitrogen, Carlsbad) or variants thereof. The useful expression vector should carry human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter to promote constitute transcription of the interest gene in mammalian cells and carry bovine growth hormone polyadenylation signal sequence to increase steady state level of RNA after transcription. In an embodiment of the present invention, the expression vector is pAD11, which is a modified vector of RcCMV. Examples of the expression vector carrying a nucleotide sequence coding for a biologically active molecule drug may include, not is limited to, pAD11 EPO-hFc-1, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-1, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-1, pAD11 EPO-hFc-6, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-6, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-6, pAD11 EPO-hFc-5, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-5, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-5 or pAD11 TNFR-hFc-5, as described in more detail in Examples.

An appropriate host cell can be transformed or transfected with the DNA sequence of the invention, and utilized for the expression and/or secretion of the target protein. Currently preferred host cells for use in the invention include immortal hybridoma cells, NS/0 myeloma cells, 293 cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, HeLa cells, and COS cells.

One expression system that has been used to produce high level expression of fusion proteins or antibody or antibody fragment in mammalian cells is a DNA construct encoding, in the 5′ to 3′ direction, a secretion cassette, including a signal sequence and an immunoglobulin Fc region, and a target protein such as p40, EPO, G-CSF, TNF receptor. Several target proteins have been expressed successfully in such a system and include, for example, IL2, CD26, Tat, Rev, OSF-2, ss; IG-H3, IgE Receptor, PSMA, and gp120. These expression constructs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,541,087 and 5,726,044 to Lo et al., contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The fusion proteins or antibody molecule or antibody fragments of the invention may or may not be include a signal sequence when expressed. As used herein, the term “signal sequence” is understood to mean a segment which directs the secretion of the biologically active molecule drug; fusion protein and thereafter is cleaved following translation in the host cell. The signal sequence of the invention is a polynucleotide which encodes an amino acid sequence which initiates transport of a protein across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. Signal sequences which are useful in the invention include antibody light chain signal sequences, e.g., antibody 14.18 (Gillies et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 1989. 125:191-202), antibody heavy chain signal sequences, e.g., the MOPC141 antibody heavy chain signal sequence (Sakano et al., Nature 1980. 286: 676-683), and any other signal sequences which are known in the art (see, e.g., Watson et al., Nucleic Acids Research 1984. 12:5145-5164).

Signal sequences have been well characterized in the art and are known typically to contain 16 to 30 amino acid residues, and may contain greater or fewer amino acid residues. A typical signal peptide consists of three regions: a basic N-terminal region, a central hydrophobic region, and a more polar C-terminal region. The central hydrophobic region contains 4 to 12 hydrophobic residues that anchor the signal peptide across the membrane lipid bilayer during transport of the nascent polypeptide. Following initiation, the signal peptide is usually cleaved within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum by cellular enzymes known as signal peptidases. Potential cleavage sites of the signal peptide generally follow the “(−3,−1) rule.” Thus a typical signal peptide has small, neutral amino acid residues in positions-1 and -3 and lacks proline residues in this region.

The signal peptidase will cleave such a signal peptide between the −1 and +1 amino acids. Thus, the signal sequence may be cleaved from the amino-terminus of the fusion protein during secretion. This results in the secretion of an Fc fusion protein consisting of the immunoglobulin Fc region and the target protein. A detailed discussion of signal peptide sequences is provided by von Heijne (1986) Nucleic Acids Res. 14:4683.

As would be apparent to one of skill in the art, the suitability of a particular signal sequence for use in the secretion cassette may require some routine experimentation.

Such experimentation will include determining the ability of the signal sequence to direct the secretion of an Fc fusion protein and also a determination of the optimal configuration, genomic or cDNA, of the sequence to be used in order to achieve efficient secretion of Fc fusion proteins. Additionally, one skilled in the art is capable of creating a synthetic signal peptide following the rules presented by von Heijne (1986), and testing for the efficacy of such a synthetic signal sequence by routine experimentation. A signal sequence can also be referred to as a “signal peptide,” “leader sequence,” or “leader peptides.”

The fusion of the signal sequence and the immunoglobulin Fc region is sometimes referred to as secretion cassette. An exemplary secretion cassette useful in the practice of the invention is a polynucleotide encoding, in a 5′ to 3′ direction, a signal sequence of an immunoglobulin light chain gene and an Fcy1 region of the human immunoglobulin y1 gene. The Fcy1 region of the immunoglobulin Fcy1 gene preferably includes at least a portion of the immunoglobulin hinge domain and at least the CH3 domain, or more preferably at least a portion of the hinge domain, the CH2 domain and the CH3 domain. As used herein, the “portion” of the immunoglobulin hinge region is understood to mean a portion of the immunoglobulin hinge that contains at least one, preferably two cysteine residues capable of forming interchain disulfide bonds. The DNA encoding the secretion cassette can be in its genomic configuration or its cDNA configuration. Under certain circumstances, it may be advantageous to produce the Fc region from human immunoglobulin Fcy2 heavy chain sequences. Although Fc fusions based on human immunoglobulin y1 and y2 sequences behave similarly in mice, the Fc fusions based on the y2 sequences can display superior pharmacokinetics in humans.

In another embodiment, the DNA sequence encodes a proteolytic cleavage site interposed between the secretion cassette and the target protein. A cleavage site provides for the proteolytic cleavage of the encoded fusion protein thus separating the Fc domain from the target protein. As used herein, “proteolytic cleavage site” is understood to mean amino acid sequences which are preferentially cleaved by a proteolytic enzyme or other proteolytic cleavage agents. Useful proteolytic cleavage sites include amino acids sequences which are recognized by proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin, plasmin or enterokinase K. Many cleavage site/cleavage agent pairs are known (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,044).

Further, substitution or deletion of constructs of these constant regions, in which one or more amino acid residues of the constant region domains are substituted or deleted also would be useful. One example would be to introduce amino acid substitutions in the upper CH2 region to create an Fc variant with reduced affinity for Fc receptors (Cole et al. (1997) J. Immunol. 159: 3613). One of ordinary skill in the art can prepare such constructs using well known molecular biology techniques.

Non-limiting examples of protein drugs capable of being conjugated to the immunoglobulin Fc fragment of the present invention include human growth hormone, bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1), growth hormone releasing hormone, growth hormone releasing peptide, interferons and interferon receptors (e.g., interferon-α, -β and -γ, water-soluble type I interferon receptor, etc.), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), glucagon-like peptides (e.g., GLP-1, etc.), G-protein-coupled receptor, interleukins (e.g., interleukin-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10, -11, -12, -13, -14, -15, -16, -17, -18, -19, -20, -21, -22, -23, -24, -25, -26, -27, -28, -29, -30, etc.) and interleukin receptors (e.g., IL-1 receptor, IL-4 receptor, etc.), enzymes (e.g., glucocerebrosidase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, alpha-galactosidase-A, agalsidase alpha and beta, alpha-L-iduronidase, butyrylcholinesterase, chitinase, glutamate decarboxylase, imiglucerase, lipase, uricase, platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, neutral endopeptidase, myeloperoxidase, etc.), interleukin and cytokine binding proteins (e.g., IL-18 bp, TNF-binding protein, etc.), macrophage activating factor, macrophage peptide, B cell factor, T cell factor, protein A, allergy inhibitor, cell necrosis glycoproteins, immunotoxin, lymphotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, tumor suppressors, metastasis growth factor, alpha-1 antitrypsin, albumin, alpha-lactalbumin, apolipoprotein-E, erythropoietin, highly glycosylated erythropoietin, angiopoietins; hemoglobin, thrombin, thrombin receptor activating peptide, thrombomodulin, factor VII, factor VIIa, factor VIII, factor IX, factor XIII, plasminogen activating factor, fibrin-binding peptide, urokinase, streptokinase, hirudin, protein C, C-reactive protein, renin inhibitor, collagenase inhibitor, superoxide dismutase, leptin, platelet-derived growth factor, epithelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, angiostatin, angiotensin, bone growth factor, bone stimulating protein, calcitonin, insulin, atriopeptin, cartilage inducing factor, elcatonin, connective tissue activating factor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, nerve growth factors (e.g., nerve growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, axogenesis factor-1, brain-natriuretic peptide, glial derived neurotrophic factor, netrin, neurophil inhibitor factor, neurotrophic factor, neuturin, etc.), parathyroid hormone, relaxin, secretin, somatomedin, insulin-like growth factor, adrenocortical hormone, glucagon, cholecystokinin, pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin releasing peptide, corticotropin releasing factor, thyroid stimulating hormone, autotaxin, lactoferrin, myostatin, receptors (e.g., TNFR(P75), TNFR(P55), IL-1 receptor, VEGF receptor, B cell activating factor receptor, etc.), receptor antagonists (e.g., IL1-Ra etc.), cell surface antigens (e.g., CD 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11a, 11b, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 33, 38, 40, 45, 69, etc.), virus vaccine antigens, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, antibody fragments (e.g., scFv, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2 and Fd), and virus derived vaccine antigens. An antibody fragment may be Fab, Fab′, F (ab′) 2, Fd or scFv, which is capable of binding to a specific antigen, and preferably Fab′. The Fab fragments contain the variable domain (VL) and constant domain (CL) of the light chain and the variable domain (VH) and the first constant domain (CH1) of the heavy chain. The Fab′ fragments differ from the Fab fragments in terms of adding several amino acid residues including one or more cysteine residues from the hinge region to the carboxyl terminus of the CH1 domain. The Fd fragments comprise only the VH and CH1 domain, and the F (ab′) 2 fragments are produced as a pair of Fab′ fragments by either disulfide bonding or a chemical reaction. The scFv (single-chain Fv) fragments comprise the VL and VH domains that are linked to each other by a peptide linker and thus are present in a single polypeptide chain.

In particular, preferred as biologically active molecules are those requiring frequent dosing upon administration to the body for therapy or prevention of diseases, which include human growth hormone, interferons (interferon-α, -β, -γ, etc.), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoietin (EPO), TFN receptor, p40, and antibody fragments. In addition, certain derivatives are included in the scope of the biologically active molecules of the present invention as long as they have function, structure, activity or stability substantially identical to or improved compared over native forms of the biologically active molecules. In the present invention, the most preferable polypeptide drug is interferon-alpha.

In another aspect of the invention, IgG-Fc and IgG-CH fusion proteins, for example, are synthesized as monomers that can assemble to form dimers. Typically, the dimers are joined by disulfide bonds in the IgG Hinge region. Conditioned media from cells secreting the IgG fusion proteins can contain mixtures of IgG fusion protein monomers and dimers. For use as human therapeutics it will be desirable to use homogeneous populations of either IgG fusion protein monomers or dimers, but not mixtures of the two forms.

Methods for obtaining essentially pure preparations of dimeric active polypeptide-IgG fusion proteins are also provided. The methods are generally accomplished by obtaining a host cell capable of expressing the IgG fusion protein, collecting the conditioned media, and purifying the dimeric fusion protein from monomeric fusion protein, aggregates and contaminating proteins by column chromatography procedures. Suitable host cells for expressing the IgG fusion proteins include yeast, insect, mammalian or other eukaryotic cells. In an embodiment, the host cell may be a mammalian cell, particularly COS, CHO or BHK cells.

Novel fusion proteins of a polypeptide drug and a Fc fragment are also provided. In one embodiment, a polypeptide drug such as EPO, p40, G-CSF or TNF receptor is joined directly to the hybrid Fc fragment without an intervening peptide linker. In another embodiment, the polypeptide drug is joined to each other through a peptide linker of 1 to 50 amino acids, and more preferably through a peptide linker of 1 to 7 amino acids. Particularly useful linkers for this purpose include an immunologically inactive peptide composed of Gly and Ser residues (e.g. Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser; SEQ ID NO: 32) or composed of amino acids at positions 282-314 of SEQ ID NO: 25 derived in human albumin.

In the case when a linker is used, the linker and a polypeptide drug may be made in a certain direction. That is, the linker may be linked to the N-terminus, the C-terminus or a free group of the hybrid Fc fragment, and may also be linked to the N-terminus, the C-terminus or a free group of the polypeptide drug. When the linker is a peptide linker, the linkage may take place at a certain linking site.

When a polypeptide drug and a hybrid Fc is expressed separately and then joined to each other, the coupling may be performed using any of a number of coupling agents known in the art. Non-limiting examples of the coupling agents include 1,1-bis(diazoacetyl)-2-phenylethane, glutaradehyde, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters such as esters with 4-azidosalicylic acid, imidoesters including disuccinimidyl esters such as 3,3′-dithiobis (succinimidylpropionate), and bifunctional maleimides such as bis-N-maleimido-1,8-octane.

The present invention also provides methods for the production of polypeptide drug-hybrid Fc fragment.

The present invention also provides methods for treating conditions alleviated by the administration of a polypeptide drug. These methods include administering to a mammal having the condition, which may or may not be directly related to a disease of interest, an effective amount of a polypeptide of the invention. For example, a nucleic acid, such as DNA or RNA, encoding a desired polypeptide drug-hybrid Fc fragment fusion protein can be administered to a subject, preferably a mammal, as a therapeutic agent. Additionally, a cell containing a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide drug-hybrid Fc fragment fusion protein can be administered to a subject, preferably a mammal, as a therapeutic agent. Furthermore, a polypeptide drug-hybrid Fc fragment fusion construct can be administered to a subject, preferably a mammal, as a therapeutic agent. Such chimeric polypeptide may be administered intravenously, subcutaneously, orally, buccally, sublingually, nasally, parenterally, rectally, vaginally or via a pulmonary route.

An EPO (including its variants/fragments)-fc fusion protein of the present invention may be useful in raising and maintaining hematocrit in a mammal.

p40 is a subunit of IL-12. IL-12 is a 75 kDa heterodimeric cytokine that has several functions in vivo. For example, IL-12 stimulates proliferation of activated T and NK cells and promotes Th1-type helper cell responses. IL-12 exerts its biological effects by binding to the IL-12 receptor on the plasma membrane of activated T and NK cells, and the ability of IL-12 to bind to the IL-12 receptor has been attributed to the p40 subunit of IL-12. Therefore, a p40 (including its variants/fragments)-fc fusion protein of the present invention may be useful in reducing the symptoms of/preventing/treating an autoimmune disease, (ii) inhibiting rejection of a graft, or (iii) treating /preventing endotoxin-induced shock. Also, a p40 (including its variants/fragments)-fc fusion protein of the present invention may be useful in treating/preventing/amelioration the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowl disease, multiple sclerosis or psoriasis. Variants and fragments are known in the art, including, not limited to, WO 97/20062, contents of which are incorporated herein as reference. One embodiment of p40 variant includes, but is not limited to, p40 containing Asn303Gln substitution.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a protein that is essential for the proliferation and differentiation of granulocytes, particularly neutrophils. Granulocytes engulf and devour microbial invaders and cell debris and thus are crucial to infection response. Chemotherapy destroys granulocytes and/or decrease the production of granulocytes. Therefore, a G-CSF (including its variants/fragments)-fc fusion protein of the present invention may be useful in treating/preventing/amelioration the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia myelosuppression after bone marrow transplantation, acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, severe chronic neutropenias, or mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells for transplantation.

The fusion proteins of the invention not only are useful as therapeutic agents, but one skilled in the art recognizes that the fusion proteins are useful in the production of antibodies for diagnostic use. Likewise, appropriate administration of the DNA or RNA, e.g., in a vector or other delivery system for such uses, is included in methods of use of the invention.

Compositions of the present invention may be administered by any route which is compatible with the particular molecules. It is contemplated that the compositions of the present invention may be provided to an animal by any suitable means, directly (e.g., locally, as by injection, implantation or topical administration to a tissue locus) or systemically (e.g., parenterally or orally). Where the composition is to be provided parenterally, such as by intravenous, subcutaneous, ophthalmic, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, buccal, rectal, vaginal, intraorbital, intracerebral, intracranial, intraspinal, intraventricular, intrathecal, intracistemal, intracapsular, intranasal or by aerosol administration, the composition preferably includes part of an aqueous or physiologically compatible fluid suspension or solution. Thus, the carrier or vehicle is physiologically acceptable so that in addition to delivery of the desired composition to the patient, it does not otherwise adversely affect the patient's electrolyte and/or volume balance. The fluid medium for the agent thus can include normal physiologic saline.

The DNA constructs (or gene constructs) of the invention also can be used as a part of a gene therapy protocol to deliver nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide drug or a fusion protein construct thereof.

The invention features expression vectors for in vivo transfection and expression of a polypeptide drug of interest or a fusion protein construct thereof in particular cell types so as to reconstitute or supplement the function of the desired polypeptide drug. Expression constructs of the desired polypeptide drug, or fusion protein constructs thereof, may be administered in any biologically effective carrier, e.g. any formulation or composition capable of effectively delivering the desired polypeptide drug-encoding gene or fusion protein construct thereof to cells in vivo.

Approaches include insertion of the subject gene in viral vectors including recombinant retroviruses, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and herpes simplex virus-1, or recombinant bacterial or eukaryotic plasmids. Preferred dosages per administration of nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins of the invention are within the range of 0.1 mg-100 mg for humans, more preferably 1 mg-10 mg, and most preferably 2 mg-10 mg. It is contemplated that the optimal dosage and mode of administration may be determined by routine experimentation well within the level of skill in the art.

Preferred dosages of the fusion protein per administration are within the range of 0.1 mg-1,000 mg for humans, more preferably, 1 mg-100 mg and most preferably 5 mg-20 mg. It is contemplated that the optimal dosage, however, also depends upon the disease being treated and upon the existence of side effects. However, optimal dosages may be determined using routine experimentation. Administration of the fusion protein may be by periodic bolus injections, or by continuous intravenous, subcutaneous, or intraperitoneal administration from an external reservoir (for example, from an intravenous bag) or internal (for example, from a bioerodable implant).

Furthermore, it is contemplated that the fusion proteins of the invention also may be administered to the intended recipient together with a plurality of different biologically active molecules. It is contemplated, however, that the optimal combination of fusion protein and other molecules, modes of administration, dosages may be determined by routine experimentation well within the level of skill in the art.

The invention is illustrated further by the following non-limiting examples.

Example 1 Preparation of Expression Vectors for hFc-1, hFc-2, hFc-3, hFc-4, hFc-5, and hFc-6 Fusion Proteins

The hFc-1 includes 9 amino acids (90-98) of C-terminal IgG1 CH1 region, hinge region (99-113) of IgG1, 6 amino acids (111-116) of N-terminal IgG2 CH2 region, 103 amino acids (118-220) of IgG4 CH2 region, and 107 amino acids (221-327) of IgG4 CH3 region (FIGS. 1 and 2). An amino acid sequence of hFc-1 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 18. To obtain codon-optimized nucleotides each coding for hFc-1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), human EPO (SEQ ID NO: 7), human G-CSF (SEQ ID NO: 8) and human p40N303Q (a mutant derived from substitution of Asn with Gln at the 303rd amino acid of human p40 subunit) (a nucleotide sequence of p40N303Q is shown as SEQ ID NO: 9, and an amino acid sequence of human p40 is shown as SEQ ID NO: 17), respectively, these nucleotide molecules were synthesized by custom service of TOP Gene Technologies (Quebec, Canada) (www.topgenetech.com). To increase the level of protein expression, it is very helpful to optimize codon usage of the gene. The pattern of codon usage differs between organisms. Some codons are used more frequently in one organism but used rarely in another organism. This bias in codon usage has been attributed to translational efficiency, the ability of the organism to synthesize the encoded protein. To insert each fusion gene to an expression vector, pAD11 (SEQ ID NO: 10), a EcoR I site was generated at 5′ end of ATG sequence of EPO, G-CSF, and p40N303Q and Xba I site was generated at 3′ end of the termination codon of hFc-1. The expression vector pAD11 was obtained from RcCMV backbone (available from Invitrogen, Carlsbad). pAD11, includes a promoter derived from cytomegalovirus (CMV), poly (A) sequences derived from bovine growth hormone, globin intervening sequence (gIVS) derived from rabbit beta globin (Mol Cell Biol, 1988 8: 4395) and etc. To make the pAD11 vector, there are several modifications from the RcCMV vector (Invitrogen). A neomycin resistant region was removed by treatment with Xho I enzyme and gIVS was added at 3′ of CMV promoter region. In addition, a mouse dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene (Pubmed, NM 010049) was added at 5′ of CMV promoter. The pAD11 vector was developed after many expression tests in combination with several elements including them described above. In our unpublished result, pAD11 vector showed about 12-fold increase in expression level, compared to RcCMV vector (Invitrogen). To make a junction site between 3′ end of EPO, G-CSF and p40N303Q and 5′ end of hFc-1 in frame, a Nhe I site at 3′ end of the coding sequence of EPO, G-CSF and p40N303Q and at 5′ end of the coding sequence of hFc-1 was generated. After subcloning using each restriction enzymes site, the final expression vectors for hFc-1 fused with EPO, G-CSF or p40N303Q were generated, and then designated as pAD11 EPO-hFc-1, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-1 and pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-1, respectively.

Amino acid sequences of hFc-2, hFc-3, hFc-4, hFc-5 and hFc-6 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 19-23, respectively. The hFc-6 includes 9 amino acids (90-98) of the C-terminal IgD CH1 domain, 64 amino acids of the hinge region (99-162) of IgD, 8 amino acids (SHTQPLGV; 163-170) of the N-terminal IgD CH2 domain, 100 amino acids (121-220) of the IgG4 CH2 domain, and 107 amino acids (221-327) of the IgG4 CH3 domain (FIGS. 1 and 2). To obtain codon-optimized nucleotide molecule coding for hFc-6 (SEQ ID NO: 6), the gene was synthesized by custom service of TOP Gene Technologies (www.topgenetech.com). To make a fusion between 3′ end of EPO, G-CSF, or p40N303Q and the 5′ end of hFc-6 in frame, the Nhe I site (gctagc: Ala-Ser) included in the N-terminal coding region (90 and 91 amino acids) of hFc-6 was used. Also, to insert each hFc-6 fusion gene into pAD 11 vector, a Xba I site was generated at the 3′ end of hFc-6 gene. After subcloning using each restriction enzymes site, the final expression vectors for hFc-6 fused EPO, G-CSF and p40N303Q were generated, and then designated as pAD11 EPO-hFc-6, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-6 and pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-6, respectively. The hFc-2, hFc-3, hFc-4, and hFc-5 have identical CH2 and CH3 regions, but they have different sizes of IgD hinge (FIGS. 1 and 2). The hFc-2 (SEQ ID NO: 19), hFc-3 (SEQ ID NO: 20), hFc-4 (SEQ ID NO: 21), and hFc-5 (SEQ ID NO: 22) includes 5 amino acids (158-162), 10 amino acids (153-162), 20 amino acids (143-162), 30 amino acids (133-162) of C-terminal IgD hinge, respectively (FIGS. 1 and 2). To make the fusion genes between EPO, G-CSF, p40N303Q or TNFR (tumor necrosis factor receptor II) (SEQ ID NO: 30) and nucleic acid molecules coding for these hFcs (SEQ ID NOs: 2-5), the minimal gene fragments in total size of the fused genes were synthesized by custom service of TOP Gene Technologies (www.topgenetech.com). The synthesized fragments of each EPO, G-CSF, p40N303Q or TNFR fused with a nucleotide molecule coding for hinge and N-terminal CH2 region of each hFc-2, hFc-3, hFc-4, or hFc-5 include the sequences ranged from the entire EPO, G-CSF, p40N303Q or TNFR sequences to the identical enzyme site, BstE II site (GGTGACC) that is located at 138-140^(th) amino acid residues of CH2 region in IgG4 (SEQ ID NO: 13). The subcloning vectors including several gene fragments were cut with EcoR I and BstE II located at 5′ end and 3′ end, respectively, and then ligated to the CH2-CH3 region of the hFc-6. Finally, the each fusion gene was subcloned to the pAD11 using EcoR I and Xba I sites, and then designated as pAD11 EPO-hFc-2, pAD11 EPO-hFc-3, pAD11 EPO-hFc-4, pAD11 EPO-hFc-5, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-2, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-3, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-4, pAD11 G-CSF-hFc-5, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-2, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-3, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-4, pAD11 p40N303Q-hFc-5 and pAD11 TNFR-hFc-5, respectively.

Example 2 Preparation of Expression Vectors for thFc-1 and thFc-2 Coupled to IFN-β

The thFc-1 includes 23 amino acids (MDAMLRGLCCVLLLCGAVFVSPS) of signal sequence of human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), 15 amino acids (99-113) of IgG1 hinge region, 6 amino acids (111-116) of N-terminal IgG2 CH2 region, 103 amino acids (118-220) of IgG4 CH2 region, and 107 amino acids (221-327) of IgG4 CH3 region (FIG. 3). An amino acid sequence of thFc-1 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 28. The thFc-2 includes 23 amino acids (MDAMLRGLCCVLLLCGAVFVSPS) of tPA signal sequence, 15 amino acids (148-162) of IgD hinge region, 8 amino acids (163-170) of N-terminal IgD CH2 region, 100 amino acids (121-220) of IgG4 CH2 region, and 107 amino acids (221-327) of IgG4 CH3 region (FIG. 3). An amino acid sequence of thFc-2 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 29. To obtain codon-optimized nucleotides coding for thFc-1 (SEQ ID NO: 26) or thFc-2 (SEQ ID NO: 27) coupled to the N-terminus of human IFN-beta deleted its signal sequence, these nucleotide molecules were synthesized by custom service of TOP Gene Technologies (Quebec, Canada) (www.topgenetech.com). To insert each fusion gene to an expression vector, pAD11 (SEQ ID NO: 10), a EcoR I site was generated at 5′ end of thFc-1 or thFc-2 and Not I site was generated at 3′ end of the termination codon of IFN-beta. After subcloning using each restriction enzymes site, the final expression vectors were designated as pAD11 thFc-1-AL(0)-IFN-beta and pAD11 thFc-2-AL(0)-IFN-beta, respectively.

To make thFc coupled to IFN-beta via different sizes of albumin linkers or Gly-Ser linker, the gene fragments ranged from Pst I site of CH3 region of thFc-1 coupled to IFN-beta deleted its signal sequence via different sizes of albumin linkers (3aa, Baa, 13aa, 18aa, 23aa and 33aa) or Gly-Ser linker (15aa) were synthesized by custom service of TOP Gene Technologies (www.topgenetech.com) (FIG. 4). To insert 7 different gene fragments to expression vectors, pAD11 thFc-1-AL(0)-IFN-beta and pAD11 thFc-2-AL(0)-IFN-beta, a Pst I site was generated at 5′ end of them and Not I site was generated at 3′ end of the termination codon of IFN-beta. After subcloning using each restriction enzymes site, the final expression vectors were designated as pAD11 thFc-1-AL(1)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-1-AL(2)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-1-AL(3)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-1-AL(4)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-1-AL(5)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-1-AL(6)-IFN-beta pAD11, thFc-1-GS-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-2-AL(1)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-2-AL(2)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-2-AL(3)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-2-AL(4)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-2-AL(5)-IFN-beta, pAD11 thFc-2-AL(6)-IFN-beta pAD11, and thFc-2-GS-IFN-beta.

Example 3 Expression of Human EPO-hFcs, Human G-CSF-hFcs, Human p40N303Q-hFcs, Human TNFR-hFc-5 and thFcs-IFN-beta Proteins

COS-7 cells were used for expression test and cultured with DMEM media (Invitrogen, Carlsbad) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Hyclone, South Logan) and antibiotics (Invitrogen, Carlsbad). The vectors encoding EPO-hFcs, G-CSF-hFcs, p40N303Q-hFcs, TNFR-hFc-5, thFcs-IFN-beta were transfected to 5×10⁶ COS-7 cells using conventional electroporation methods. At 48 h after transfection, supernatants and cells were harvested. To check the expression of fusion protein from each vector, all the samples were used for ELISA assay with several kits (R&D system, Minneapolis, #DEPOO for EPO; Biosource, Camarillo, #KHC2032, for G-CSF; R&D system, Minneapolis, #DY1240 for p40N303Q; R&D system, Minneapolis, #DRT200 for TNFR, PBL Biomedical Laboratories, #41410-1A for IFN-beta) and western blot analysis with anti-human IgG antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz). As a result, all the vectors showed correct expression pattern in the supernatants and cell lysates (data not shown).

Example 4 Purification of hFc-Fused Proteins

The CHO/DHFR^(−/−) cells (chinese hamster ovary cells, DG44, ATCC) were cultured with α-MEM (Invitrogen, Carlsbad), 10% dialyzed fetal bovine serum (JRH Biosciences, Kansas), HT supplement (Invitrogen, Carlsbad) and antibiotics (Invitrogen, Carlsbad). The expression vectors were transfected to the CHO cells according to the conventional CaPO₄ coprecipitation methods. At 48 h after transfection, the CHO cells were detached from the plates and diluted at several folds (1/2, 1/5, 1/20, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200, 1/500). The diluted cells were plated to 100 mm dishes and cultured with the media without HT supplement. During screening process, the fresh media without HT supplement were supplied to the cells without passage. The colonies were generated for 2-3 weeks after plating and the individual colonies were moved to 48 well plates. The positive colonies were screened after ELISA assay for EPO, G-CSF, p40N303Q, and TNFR detections. Each colony that showed the highest expression was cultured in a large scale (5L) using serum free media (JRH Biosciences, Kansas). The serum-free supernatants harvested were used for purification of each fusion protein. For purification, HiTrap recombinant protein A FF (Amersham biosciences, Piscataway) columns were equilibrated with 20 mM Sodium phosphate (pH 7.0). The filtered supernatants were added to the columns and eluted with 0.1M sodium citrate (pH 3.0). The eluted proteins were finally obtained after dialysis with membrane (MWCO 12-14K, Spectrapor, Rancho Dominguez) more than three times. All the concentration of protein samples was determined by BCA kit (Pierce Biotechnology, Rockford) for the measurement of the total protein and by ELISA kits for the measurement of EPO-hFcs, G-CSF-hFcs, p40N303Q-hFcs, TNFR-hFc-5 and thFcs-IFN-beta.

Example 5 FcγRI and C1q Binding Assay

To investigate whether hFc-5-fused proteins bind to FcγRI and C1q, MabThera® (Rituximab, Roche), hIgG1 (Calbiochem, Cat#, 400120), Enbrel® (etanercept, Amgen), EPO-hFc-5, G-CSF-hFc-5 and p40N303Q-hFc-5 were serially diluted (from 2 ug/ml to 16 ng/ml with 2-fold) and coated on the 8 well strip (COSTAR, New York) overnight at 4° C. To make a standard curve, FcγRI (R&D, cat# BAF1257) or C1q (AbD serotech, Cat#. 2221-5504) were also serially diluted (from 2 ug/ml to 32 ng/ml with 2-fold) and coated on the 8 well strip (COSTAR, New York) overnight at 4° C. After washing each strip of samples with washing buffer (PBS containing 0.05% Tween) and blocking with 10% FBS in PBS for 1 hour at RT, FcγRI or C1q were added into each well at 2 ug/ml following incubation for 2 hours at room temperature (RT). All strips were washed with washing buffer. For C1q binding test, HRP conjugated anti-C1q (AbD serotech, cat#. 2221-5004P) was added into each well at 2.5 ug/ml following 30 min incubation at RT under dark condition. For FcγRI binding test, biotinylated anti-FcγRI (R&D, cat#. 1257-FC) was added into each well at 2 ug/ml following 1 hour incubation at RT. After washing them with washing buffer, Streptavidine-HRP (BD, cat#. 554066) diluted with 3,000 fold was added into each strip following 30 minute incubation at RT under dark condition. After washing the strips, TMB solution (1:1 mixture of TMB Peroxidase substrate and Peroxidase substrate solution B, KPL, cat#. 50-76-01, cat#, 50-65-00) was added for development and 2N H₂SO₄ was added for stopping development. As shown in FIG. 6( a) and FIG. 6( b), MabThera®, Enbrel® and hIgG1 were shown to be well bound to FcγRI and C1q, but EPO-hFc-5, G-CSF-hFc-5 and p40N303Q-hFc-5 were not.

Example 6 In Vitro Bioactivity of Purified hFc-Fused Proteins

To investigate the in vitro bioactivities of EPO-hFc proteins, human F35E cell line was cultured in RPMI1640 media (Cambrex, Charles City) supplemented with 10% FBS, antibiotics and 5 IU/ml recombinant human EPO (DongA, Republic of Korea). Bioassays were set up by seeding 2×10⁴ cells to test wells of a 96-well cell culture plate (Corning, Netherlands). The samples with serial dilutions (0, 0.064 mIU/ml to 25 IU/ml with 5-fold) of EPO, EPO-hFc-1, EPO-hFc-5, EPO-hFc-6, EPO-IgG1 Fc or Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa, Amgen) were added to the these wells and the plates were incubated at 37° C. for 72 hours in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator. According to the manufacturer's protocol, MTT assay was performed by using cell growth colorimetric assay kit (Sigma-Aldrich. Korea). The human F35E cell line showed a strong proliferative response to rEPO, as evidenced by a dose-dependent manner in cell number and absorbance values. As shown in FIG. 7( a), Aranesp® and EPO proteins coupled to IgG1 Fc or hFcs showed loss of biological activity, compared to EPO protein. However, EPO-hFc-1, EPO-hFc-5 and EPO-hFc-6 showed significantly higher bioactivity than EPO-IgG1 Fc. In addition, EPO-hFc-5 and EPO-hFc-6 showed slightly higher bioactivity than Aranesp®, indicating that these hFc-fused proteins appear to be better than Aranesp® in terms of maintaining bioactivity of EPO protein.

To investigate the in vitro bioactivities of G-CSF-hFc protein, mouse hematopoietic cell line, NFS-60 was cultured in RPMI1640 media (Cambrex, Charles City) supplemented with 10% FBS, antibiotics and 100 units/ml recombinant mouse IL-3 (R&D system, Minneapolis). Bioassays were set up by seeding 2×10⁴ cells to wells of a 96-well cell culture plate (Corning, Netherlands). The samples with serial dilutions (ranged from 0 to 10,000 pg/ml with 3-fold) of G-CSF-hFc-5 and Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim, Amgen) were added to these wells and the plates were incubated at 37° C. for 72 hours in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator. Protein samples were assayed in triplicate wells and this experiment was performed repeatedly for five times. At 72 hours after incubation, MTT assay was performed by using cell growth colorimetric assay kit (Sigma-Aldrich. Korea), according to the manufacturer's protocol. As illustrated in FIG. 7( b), G-CSF-hFc-5 showed slightly higher in vitro bioactivity than Neulasta®.

To investigate the in vitro bioactivity of p40N303Q-hFc protein, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of rheumatoid arthritis patients were incubated with 2 ug/ml of anti-human CD3 antibody (R&D system, # MAB 100) with or without 10 ng/ml of human p40 (R&D system) or p40N303Q-hFc-5 in RPMI1640 media (Cambrex, Charles City) supplemented with 10% FBS, and antibiotics. After day 6, the cells positive for CD4 and IL-17 were measured by FACS analysis. As shown in FIG. 7( c), p40N303Q-hFc-5 showed stronger suppressive effect on the generation of CD4⁺/IL-17⁺ cells than p40 protein, indicating the inhibitory function of p40N303Q-hFc-5 on Th17 polarization.

To investigate the in vitro bioactivity of TNFR-hFc protein, murine L929 cells were cultured in RPMI1640 media (Cambrex, Charles City) supplemented with 10% FBS and antibiotics. Cytopathic inhibition assay was set up by seeding 3×10⁴ cells to wells of a 96-well cell culture plate (Corning, Netherlands), then treated with 1 ng/ml of TNF-α. The samples with serial dilutions (ranged from 15.6 to 1,000 ng/ml with 2-fold) of TNFR-hFc-5 and Enbrel® (etanercept, Amgen) were added to these wells and the plates were incubated at 37° C. for 48 hours in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator. After incubation, MTT assay was performed by using cell growth colorimetric assay kit (Sigma-Aldrich, Korea), according to the manufacturer's protocol. As illustrated in FIG. 7( d), TNFR-hFc-5 showed slightly higher in vitro bioactivity than Enbrel®.

To investigate the in vitro bioactivities of thFc-1-AL(0)-IFN-beta and thFc-1-AL(3)-IFN-beta proteins, WISH cells (ATCC, CCL-25) were cultured in DMEM/F12 (Cambrex, Charles City) supplemented with 10% FBS and antibiotics. Cytopathic inhibition assay was set up by seeding 3×10⁴ cells to wells of a 96-well cell culture plate (Corning, Netherlands), then treated with 1,500 PFU/well of VSV (ATCC, VR-158). The samples with serial dilutions (from 40 IU/ml with 2-fold) of recombinant IFN-beta (WHO standard, NIBSC 00/572), thFc-1-AL(0)-IFN-beta and thFc-1-AL(3)-IFN-beta proteins were added to these wells and the plates were incubated at 37° C. for 48 hours in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator. After incubation, MTT assay was performed by using cell growth colorimetric assay kit (Sigma-Aldrich. Korea), according to the manufacturer's protocol. As illustrated in FIG. 7( e), thFc-1-AL(3)-IFN-beta showed about 20 fold higher in vitro bioactivity than thFc-1-AL(0)-IFN-beta, indicating the important role of albumin liker to maintain the bioactivity of IFN-beta fused to Fc.

Example 7 In Vivo Half Life of Purified hFc-Fused Proteins

To compare the half life of EPO-hFc-1, EPO-hFc-5 and Aranesp®, fifteen cynomolgus monkeys were treated with these proteins in a dose of 2,400 IU/kg via single subcutaneous (SC) injection or a single intravenous (IV) injection. Blood samples of each monkey were obtained before injection and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 30, 48, 54, 72, 78, 96, 120, 168, 336, 504, and 672 h post-injection. Blood samples were incubated at room temperature for 30 min to be clotted. After centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 min, sera from each sample were obtained and stored at deep freezer. All samples obtained at each point were tested for the quantification of EPO by EPO ELISA kit (R&D, cat #. DEP00). As shown in FIG. 8( a), all individual monkeys injected with EPO-hFc-1 or EPO-hFc-5 via SC or IV routes showed longer half life than individual monkeys injected with Aranesp® via SC or IV routes.

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of G-CSF-hFc-1, 100 ug/kg of LEUCOSTIM® (filgrastim, DongA, Republic of Korea) as a control and G-CSF-hFc-1 were administrated via SC or IV routes to two male Sprague Dawley Rats (Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington) per group. Blood was obtained before injection and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 192 h post-injection. Sera obtained by centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 10 min after incubation at room temperature for 30 min and stored at deep freezer. Samples were quantified with several dilution folds such as 1/2, 1/5, 1/50, 1/250, 1/500 using G-CSF kit (Biosource, Camarillo, #KHC2032). As shown in FIG. 8( b), G-CSF-hFc-1 injected via SC or IV routes showed longer half-life than LEUCOSTIM®. G-CSF-hFc-1 and G-CSF had 8.76 h and 2.36 h of in vivo t_(1/2) after SC administration and 10.42 h and 1.78 h after IV administration, respectively. Therefore, G-CSF-hFc-1 showed an enhancement of 3.7-fold following SC injections and 5.9-fold following IV injection, compared to the LEUCOSTIM®.

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of p40N303Q-hFc-5 and Enbrel®, three cynomolgus monkeys per group were treated with a single SC injection in a dose of 100 ug/kg. Blood samples of each monkey were obtained before injection and at 8, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 168, 336, 504, and 672 h post-injection. Blood samples were incubated at room temperature for 30 min to be clotted. After centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 min, sera from each sample were obtained and stored at deep freezer. All samples obtained at each point were tested for the quantification of human p40 and human TNFR II by ELISA kits (R&D system, Minneapolis, #DY1240 and #DRT200, respectively). As shown in FIG. 8( c), p40N303Q-hFc-5 showed longer half life than Enbrel® (average 199 h vs 127 h), although p40N303Q-hFc-5 showed lower Cmax value than Enbrel® (average 3 ng/ml vs 7 ng/ml).

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of TNFR-hFc-5 and Enbrel®, three male Sprague Dawley Rats (Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington) per group were treated with a single SC injection in a dose of 500 ug/kg. Blood samples of each rat were obtained before injection and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 48, 72 and 120 h post-injection. Blood samples were incubated at room temperature for 30 min to be clotted. After centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 10 min, sera from each sample were obtained and stored at deep freezer. All samples obtained at each point were tested for the quantification of human TNFR II by ELISA kits (R&D system, Minneapolis, #DRT200). As shown in FIG. 8( d), TNFR-hFc-5 showed slightly higher AUC level than Enbrel® (average 198.1 vs 172.9 ug*h/ml), although TNFR-hFc-5 showed similar half life to Enbrel® (average 28.6 h vs 29.4 h).

Example 8 In Vivo Bioactivity of Purified hFc-Fused Proteins

To compare the in vivo bioactivity of EPO-hFc-5 and Aranesp®, three cynomolgus monkeys per group were treated with a SC injection or a single IV injection in a dose of 2,400 IU/kg. Blood samples of each monkey were obtained before injection and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 30, 48, 54, 72, 78, 96, 120, 168, 336, 504, and 672 h post-injection. The number of various blood cells including reticulocytes was measured to evaluate the in vivo bioactivity of EPO-hFc-5 and Aranesp®. As shown in FIG. 9( a), EPO-hFc-5 showed slightly higher in vitro potency than Aranesp® in both SC and IV routes in terms of increase of reticulocytes in monkeys.

To investigate the in vivo bioactivity of G-CSF-hFc-1, LEUCOSTIM® (filgrastim, DongA, Republic of Korea) as a control and G-CSF-hFc-1 in a dose of 100 ug/kg were administrated via SC or IV routes to two male Sprague Dawley Rats (Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington) per group. Blood was obtained using EDTA tube before injection and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 192 h post-injection. Each blood sample was treated with RBC lysis buffer (BD Bioscience, Korea) for 4 minutes and total WBCs (white blood cells) diluted in FACS buffer were counted repeatedly three times using hematocytometer. The number of granulocyte was measured using FACS caliber by determination of cell size by FSC (forward scatter) and granules by SSC (side scatter). As illustrated in FIG. 9( b), LEUCOSTIM® treated via SC and IV routes induced the peak number of WBC and granulocyte at 24 hours post-injection, while G-CFS-hFc-1 induced the peak number of WBC and granulocytes at 72 hours post-SC injection and 48 hours post-IV injection. From 24 h to 120 h after injection, G-CSF-hFc-1 had more sustained in vivo bioactivity, compared with LEUCOSTIM®.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. A chimeric polypeptide comprising a hybrid human Fc; and a human growth hormone (“hGH”), a variant or fragment thereof, coupled to the hybrid human Fc, wherein said hybrid human Fc is represented by the following formula: N′—(Z1)_(p)-Y—Z2-Z3-Z4-C′ wherein: N′ is the N-terminus and C′ is the C-terminus of the hybrid human Fc, Y is an amino acid sequence consisting of 5 or more consecutive amino acid residues starting from the C-terminal of the sequence of positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14; Z2 is an amino acid sequence consisting of 4 or more consecutive amino acid residues starting from the N-terminal of the sequence of positions 163 to 199 of SEQ ID NO: 14; Z3 is an amino acid sequence consisting of at least 71 or more consecutive amino acid residues starting from the C-terminal of the sequence of positions 115 to 220 of SEQ ID NO: 13; Z4 is an amino aid sequence consisting of 80 or more consecutive amino acid residues starting from the N-terminal of the sequence of positions 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO: 13; Z1 is an amino acid sequence consisting of 5 or more consecutive amino acid residues starting from the C-terminal of the sequence of positions 90 to 98 of (i) SEQ ID NO: 11 or (ii) SEQ ID NO: 14; and p is an integer of 0 or 1, wherein the total number of the amino acid residues for Z2 and Z3 is between 80 and 140, both inclusive; wherein the total number of the amino acid residues for the polypeptide is between 154 and 288, both inclusive; and wherein the hGH, its variant or fragment is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the hybrid human Fc, and wherein said hGH, its variant or fragment fused to said hybrid human Fc shows an increased circulating half-life compared to the circulating half-life of said hGH, its variant or fragment without being fused to hybrid human Fc.
 2. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein Y is an amino acid sequence comprising the amino acid residues at positions 158 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 153 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 143 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, amino acid residues at positions 133 to 162 of SEQ ID NO: 14, or amino acid residues at positions 99 to 162 of SEQ ID NO:
 14. 3. The chimeric polypeptide of claim wherein Z2 is an amino acid sequence comprising the amino acid residues at positions 163 to 170 of SEQ ID NO:
 14. 4. The chimeric polypeptide of any one of claims 1-3, wherein Z3 is an amino acid sequence comprising the amino acid residues at positions 121 to 220 of SEQ ID NO:
 13. 5. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein Z4 is an amino acid sequence comprising the amino acid residues at positions 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO:
 13. 6. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 4, wherein Z4 is an amino acid sequence comprising the amino acid residues at positions 221 to 327 of SEQ ID NO:
 13. 7. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein p is
 0. 8. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hybrid human Fc and the hGH, its variant or fragment are coupled to each other via a linker selected from the group consisting of an albumin linker and a synthetic linker.
 9. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 8, wherein said albumin linker comprises amino acid sequence 321 to 323, 318 to 325, 316 to 328, 313 to 330, 311 to 333, or 306 to 338 of SEQ ID NO:
 25. 10. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 8, wherein said synthetic linker is a peptide of 10 to 20 amino acid residues, wherein the peptide being composed of Gly and Ser residues.
 11. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hybrid human Fc is encoded by a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 26 and SEQ ID NO:
 27. 12. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hybrid human Fc has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22 and SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 28 and SEQ ID NO:
 29. 13. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hybrid human Fc has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22
 14. A nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide of claim
 1. 15. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 14. 16. A method of producing the chimeric polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding the chimeric polypeptide of claim 1 into a mammalian host cell, (ii) growing the cell in a medium under conditions where the polypeptide can be expressed; and (iii) harvesting the expressed chimeric polypeptide from the cell or the medium.
 17. A method for increasing a circulating half-life of a human growth hormone, its variant or fragment in a subject, comprising administering the chimeric polypeptide of claim 1 to the subject.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hybrid human Fc and the human growth hormone, its variant or fragment are coupled to each other via a linker selected from the group consisting of an albumin linker and a synthetic linker. 